City are hoping to wrap up the £12.2m signing of Porto midfielder Fernando this week.

And with the Blues still favourites to land Arsenal right-back Bacary Sagna, they are planning to get most of their transfer business done before the World Cup kicks off next week.

Sources in Portugal claim that City have already agreed a fee for defensive midfielder Fernando, with the price rising to £16.2m depending on the player’s achievements.

City first tried to sign the Brazil-born Fernando, who is now a Portuguese citizen, during the January transfer window and had hope to land him for around £6m with his contract due to expire this summer.

Fernando signed a new deal as Porto played hardball, upping the price when the Blues recently returned to the negotiating table.

But City see him as the man to bring their central midfield contingent back up to four, with Jack Rodwell set to leave after two injury-hit seasons.

Gareth Barry will also leave on a free transfer as his contract expires, with Premier League newcomers Leicester said to have made him a lucrative offer, although Barry is also wanted by Everton and West Ham.

Sagna’s future may not be revealed until after France’s World Cup campaign ends, but City are in the box-seat to tie him to a three-year deal after his contract with Arsenal expired.

City are also aiming to pick up a new central defender and have been talking to Porto about their £25m-rated France international Eliaquim Mangala and to Roma about Moroccan star Mehdi Benatia.

Roma insist they want £30m for Benatia, and any deal for Mangala would not be completed until after France’s World Cup campaign is over.